in 200510-year-old talia lamond watched from her home in iowa as hurricane katrina devastated the gold coast. >> first i want to use these. >> reporter: even at such a young age she felt compelled to help people affected by the storm devising plans to trick-or-treat for donations, rather than candy. >> why did you decide to do this? >> well, i don't know who wouldn't want to. i mean, who wouldn't want to help? >> reporter: her plan gained momentum. only after some initial opposition from an unlikely foe, her young eer brother xander. >> i'm opposed to it? >> why are you opposed to it? >> because i want my candy back. >> yet xander's opposition actually brought a swell of support to the cause, and kids around the country joined talia to tally more than $10 million. though at 10 years old she took on the title of ceo, chief executive optimist, and named her organization random kid, and out of that simple act of kindness a philanthropist was born. >> don't be afraid to like embrace that. >> reporter: now 17 and a senior in high school, she continues to do good and shares her message with